Powerboating Courses

Whether you’re new to boating or aiming to build handling skills, our Powerboating Programs offers a complete, flexible pathway for adults of all experience levels. Training is delivered by instructors using THNC’s fleet — giving students real-world experience on Toronto’s Inner Harbour and surrounding waterways.

Start with Introduction to Power for a relaxed, hands-on first experience at the helm, or move directly into the Sail Canada Basic Power Course to earn an internationally recognized certification. For those ready to continue building confidence, boat-handling precision, and situational awareness, the Powerboat Progression Course (PPC) provides an advanced training experience. The PPC is open to the public — ideal for anyone looking to develop stronger skills — and also prepares students seeking to qualify for THNC Power Membership.

Whether your goal is recreational boating, safe family outings, rental readiness, or working toward club membership, THNC offers a clear, supportive training pathway designed to help you operate a powerboat safely, confidently, and independently.

Introduction to Power

1.5 Hours / $165

New to powerboating? Experience the excitement of being at the helm with our Introduction to Power session — the perfect way to explore powerboat operation without committing to a full certification course.

Guided by one of our experienced powerboating instructors, you’ll learn the basics of powerboat handling, become familiar with the controls, and gain confidence operating a vessel on Toronto’s Inner Harbour. This hands-on session provides a relaxed, supportive introduction for complete beginners.

Course Details:

Duration: 1.5 hours
Cost: $165
Schedule: Saturdays, 10am-11.30am
Includes: On-water instruction, safety overview, and the use of all required safety equipment

After learning the fundamentals, many participants choose to continue their training with the Sail Canada Basic Power Course, where they can earn internationally recognized certification and further advance their skills. 

Course Dates 2026

Saturday, 10-11:30am 

10A May 30 

10B Jun 6 

10C Jun 27 

10D Jul 11 

10E Jul 25 

10F Aug 1 

10G Aug 22 

10H Sep 19 

Sail Canada Basic Power

$695 (+ $25 Sail Canada Student Fee)

This course focuses on building confidence and providing core skills for safe and competent powerboat operation. It focuses primarily on safety, docking, slow and high-speed maneuvers, and you will learn proficient techniques across several other areas. 

Course Details:
Duration: 2 days
Cost: $695 (+ $25 Sail Canada student fee)
Schedule: Select weekends, 9am–5pm
Includes: On-water instruction + Classroom theory, materials + logbook

Prerequisites: None — ideal for beginners
Certification: Sail Canada Basic Powerboating Standard (internationally recognized)

Sample 2-day structure:

  • Day 1:
    • Introduction and safety equipment 
    • Boat familiarization and operation 
    • Slow-speed – Prop Walk, Figure 8s 
    • Leaving and docking 
    • Theory on different types of craft, engines and drives 
    • High-speed S-turns, U-turns and stopping 
    • Anchoring, securing to a buoy, towing 
    • Confined-space turning and recovery 

  • Day 2:
    • Introduction to navigation 
    • Practice Saturday’s slow-speed manoeuvres 
    • Man-overboard session 
    • Coastal navigation practical passage 
    • Boat handling under high speed   
    • Debriefing and where to go from here

Course Dates 2026

Saturday & Sunday, 9am - 6pm 

11A May 16, 17 

11B Jun 13, 14 

11C Jun 20, 21 

11D Jul 4, 5 

11E Jul 18, 19 

11F Aug 8, 9 

11G Aug 29, 30 

 

Wednesday & Friday 

9am-6pm (2 days) 

12A May 27, 29 

12B Sep 2, 4 

Powerboat Progression Course (PPC)

1 Day • 8 Hours • $395
(Lead-on from Sail Canada Basic Powerboating)

The Powerboat Progression Course (PPC) is designed for anyone who has completed Sail Canada Basic Powerboating (or has equivalent experience) and wants to further develop their skills operating deck boats and pontoon boats.

Whether your goal is simply to become a confident, safe recreational boater or to qualify for THNC Power Membership, this course provides the advanced training required to handle these vessels responsibly in Toronto Harbour and the Island waterways.

This intensive, hands-on program builds on your foundational skills and focuses on practical handling, navigation, and real-world scenarios relevant to operating THNC’s StarCraft deck boats and pontoon fleet.

Duration: 1 day (8 hours)
Cost: $395
Schedule: Select weekends (9am–5pm)
Includes: 2 hours theory + 6 hours on-water instruction

Prerequisite: Sail Canada Basic Powerboating (or equivalent experience)

What You Will Learn

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Confidently operate deck and pontoon boats in varying weather and traffic conditions

  • Perform controlled docking and undocking in tight harbour spaces

  • Navigate Toronto Harbour and the Island waterways safely and legally

  • Conduct pre-departure safety checks and manage passengers

  • Respond to common on-water emergencies

  • Understand THNC operational guidelines (for those pursuing membership)

  • Demonstrate the practical competence required for optional THNC Power Membership sign-off

Course Content

1. Review of Basic Powerboating

  • Safety equipment & checks

  • Fueling procedures

  • Collision regulations & right-of-way

2. Advanced Boat Handling

  • Throttle and trim use for deck & pontoon hull types

  • Turning radius, wake control, and planing

  • Docking and mooring with wind and current considerations

3. Navigation & Local Knowledge

  • Toronto Harbour & Island waterways

  • Speed limits, restricted areas & no-wake zones

  • Chart basics & GPS use (StarCraft fleet)

4. On-Water Scenarios

  • Emergency drills (engine failure, MOB, anchoring)

  • Passenger communication & safety management

  • Progressive handling exercises with both deck and pontoon boats

 


Certification & (Optional) Membership Eligibility

Graduates receive:

  • THNC Powerboat Skills Certificate

Students who wish to join THNC Power Membership may qualify upon:

  • Successful practical skills sign-off

  • Completion of THNC policy acknowledgments

  • Management approval

Optional Add-Ons

PPC students may add additional courses at a 10% discount:

  • VHF-DSC Radio License (ROC-M)

  • Power Vessel Operator Permit (PVOP) / Toronto Harbour License

Students who join THNC Power Membership within 7 days of completing PPC receive an additional discounted membership rate.

Course Dates 2026

Saturday, 9am - 5pm 

20A May 23 

20B Jun 6 

20C Jul 11 

20D Aug 1 

20E Sept 12

Monday & Thursday 

5.30pm-9pm (2 evenings) 

20F Jun 15 + 18 

20G Jul 13 + 16 

A $2.95 booking fee is applied to all course registrations at checkout. This supports secure online payment processing and booking system maintenance.
For all Sail Canada courses, a $25 Sail Canada Student Fee is added once per participant, per calendar year, when you take a Sail Canada course. This national fee supports Sail Canada’s certification system, insurance, instructor training, and the maintenance of Checklick — the online platform where students can view their certifications and track their sailing progress.